School Board candidate Sean Morris

The September 16, 2014 Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) Board Meeting lasted less than an hour and besides the District Staff and about 15 faculty along with several members of the community On the agenda was a presentation on the financial statements for 2013-2014 school year and two public hearing items; "Sufficiency of Textbooks and Instructional Materials for the 2014-2014 School Year” along with the "Adoption of Pupil Textbook and Instructional Material for Structured English Immersion Program for the 2014-2015 School Year."

Fillmore School District has struggled and failed for years to bring up its academic improvement, and there has been very little community involvement at Board Meetings. There are state requirement that promote parent and community involvement and one requirement is informing the public of time, place and agenda of each Board Meeting and Public Hearing. According to the California Department of Education a Public Hearings regarding sufficient quantity of textbooks, the hearing "must be on or before the eighth week of school and at least 10 days notice of the public hearing posted in at least three public places within the district that stated the time, place and purpose of the hearing, and encouraged participation by parents, teachers, members of the community, and bargaining unit leaders, (if the district of county office has a bargaining unit).

In order to be eligible to receive instructional materials funds, the governing board of each district and county office of education is required to hold an annual public hearing and adopt a resolution stating whether each pupil in the district has sufficient textbooks or instructional material in specified subjects that are aligned with the academic content standards and consistent with the content and cycles of the curriculum frameworks adopted by the state board."

A hearing is required before funds can be used to purchase the textbooks, which include Mathematics, Science, History-Social Science, English/language arts. Other books include foreign language or health classes. Insufficient quantities of the language and health books will not prevent funds being spent.

When asked where the District placed the information on the recent Public Hearing, the Gazette was told it had been posted at the front of the District building, and one in each school in the District. When questioned were the third posting was placed it was said to be in the Superintendents office (which is not a public place).

Sean Morris, who is running for a seat on the School Board, asked the Board why he had not heard of this Public Hearing stating, "...all kinds of notices are sent home with the kids, it would be nice to have it (notices of hearings) sent to the parents with the children."

Scott Beylik, who is also running for a seat on the School Board, stated last month he sent a formal request to the District to have the agenda email to him three days in advance of each meeting as the State requires Districts to do. Beylik then said he did not receive the September 2nd meeting agenda until the 3rd, a day after the meeting. He informed the Board he had not received any agenda information for the present meeting he was attending.

Superintendent Adrian E. Palazuelos, Ph.D. responded to the complaints stating, "We'll review the process and see about putting it in digital form."

Michele Reddy, Director of Budget and Accounting, gave a presentation on the past FUSD Budget. The General Funds in 2013-2014 school year were $31,962,811, but the expenditures were $32,088,853, leaving a deficit/deficiency of $126,042. Reddy informed the Board this deficit was covered by a reserve fund established by a previous administration three or four years ago, adding "...the reserve is now almost empty." Board Member Tony Prado asked if the deficit was due to the repair of the roof at Fillmore Middle School. Reddy responded, "No, that hasn't been paid for yet" informing everyone that the district borrowed the money for the roof.

Palazuelos introduced those in attendance to two newly hired FUSD employees: Stefan Cvijanovich, Director of Special Programs and Student Services; Gary Hobelman, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services.

Irma Torres, ASB President/Speaker of the House, announced it's currently Santa Paula vs. Fillmore Week and next week students start building the Homecoming Float. Also, Fillmore Cross Country raced at Fastback Shootout on the 6th winning over 18 medals. Other accomplishments included Fillmore Football winning their last two games beating Channel Island 21 to 3 and last Friday defeating Oak Park 53 to 8.